Supporting People is a government funded initiative aimed at providing a range of housing support services. In 2009/10 in Hampshire about £31m will be spent on services funded through Supporting People, with approximately £1.25m going to services within Hart. Services funded are within 3 main clusters of activity, homelessness, disability and older persons. Approximately a dozen services for each of the homelessness and older persons client groups in Hart are part funded in this way. Most of the services are accommodation based, but there are also a range of floating support services, which provide support to people in their own accommodation.  

For more information on who can use Supporting People funded services and the range of services available, please go to the Supporting People in Hampshire website.

Over the last three years Strategic Reviews have been carried out on each of the three clusters of services. These Reviews have examined the quality, value for money and strategic relevance of each of the individual services in relation to the identified needs in the district. Copies of the Review documents can be found in the Downloads section opposite.

The decision making body for Supporting People is the County Core Group made up of representatives of all the districts and boroughs, together with many countywide services including probation, youth services and children’s services. The Supporting People team in Hampshire is administered in Adult Services.

Older Persons Support Schemes

Various schemes are available in Hart to assist older people to live as independently as possible. A directory of the schemes in Hart and Rushmoor is available at the Council Offices and a copy can be viewed from the Downloads section opposite.

Community Support Service

This new service for older people has recently commenced to assist in a number of ways:

• Help with money matters
• Help to claim benefits
• Reading and dealing with post
• Advice on safety and security
• Medication prompts
• Reassurance phone calls
• Occasional light housework such as taking down curtains, changing beds etc.
• Shopping
• Signposting to other agencies for help with cleaning, and personal care
• Introductions to new groups or interests

To qualify for a funded space you will need to be over 60 years of age and receive one of the following:

• Guaranteed Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Council Tax Benefit

For more information:

Call: 0800 694 0303  Email: support@testway.co.uk

Or:

Call: 0800 195 5515  Email: care@sentinelha.org.uk

See also our page on housing for older people for further useful information.